Propel Dance's First Performance at Sadler's Wells
5-10 minutes read time
A couple of weeks ago, an extraordinary event took place at Sadler's Wells in London, marking a significant moment for Propel Dance.
Image: Propel Dance Co-Directors: Helen, Amy & Rosie, stand on stage with Rebecca Fowler, company artist after rehearsals.
I am a Co-Director with Propel, as pictured above and we are a newly formed CIC - meaning that I get to actually practice what I preach to my other clients by steering Propel Dance through the business start-up process, co-leading the company’s development and putting into action many of the things that I help others to achieve, and to action what I bang on about needs changing in the cultural sector…
For now though, there are no stuck records here! Let’s go back to 7th February.
Rebecca Fowler, also pictured above, is one of Propel’s dance artists, who excitingly took to the stage to perform a solo excerpt from The Snow Queen as part of the Children Today Charity Gala, called "Empower in Motion - An Inclusive Ballet." It was astonishing because Rebecca, by her own admission, has had an unconventional and non-formal route into professional dance, like many disabled artists. It is widely recognised that there are very few opportunities to dance and, limited routes into professional avenues, there’s a limited nation-wide infrastructure problem in inclusive dance as a whole and well, many other challenges to accessing dance. Finding and then committing to regular dance training in weekly class, for example, presents challenges even if just for recreation or health and wellbeing purposes - in nearby places, ensuring venue accessibility, there are usually many practical and logistical considerations (such as care needs, transport etc), few formal training routes, no fully accessible dance qualifications and many more challenges. That is a rabbit hole and certainly another blog post - not for today but hopefully highlights some of what I mean.
Back to the show and the significance of Sadler's Wells…
This performance was not just a variety show for a good cause; it was a statement, a celebration, and a challenge to the norms that have long governed the world of ballet and dance. As I reflect on this, several points stand out, highlighting the importance and impact of this milestone that came our way within a year of the company starting up, and, before we’ve even begun fully touring our own work!
Performing at Sadler's Wells, which is arguably the most prominent stage for dance in the UK, is in itself a monumental achievement for all of the disabled dancers who performed that night. Moreover, for Propel Dance and for professional wheelchair dance overall. This venue has been and probably still is, a pinnacle for dancers worldwide, and hosting an inclusive ballet there is a testament to sector evolution such as:
the growing recognition of disabled dancing bodies
the movement towards inclusion in society at large
good intentions of the dance world, an openness and willingness to embrace disabled dancers alongside standing dancers
agenda and policy changes: with accountability by funding bodies such as the nations Arts Councils, making decisions on who and what to fund based on their strategies that place inclusivity front and centre
a collective momentum by long-time disability dance advocates - Helen included - gaining more of a voice, profile and recognition
change makers and high profile advocates, like Andrew Miller championing the #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs campaign, with the continued platforming of disabled artists and disabled ways of being
a greater and long overdue respect for difference and diversity in the arts.
It marks a real moment of inclusion, where wheelchair dance is celebrated on one of the most prestigious stages in the world, perhaps. That’s especially significant given that the dance form that Propel are pioneering (strong words, yes, but bare with me here), is a fusion of wheelchair/para dance sport technique with contemporary dance methodologies and choreographic tools mixed together… it was a big deal.
Pioneers?
Propel Dance's performance illuminates the distinction between inclusive dance and wheelchair dance technique, showcasing the pioneering efforts of our Artistic Director, Helen, to create a new form of expression. We see our work as not only broadening the scope of dance but also inviting a dialogue on innovation, creativity, and the endless possibilities that emerge when barriers are broken down in form, style and content: in bridging worlds and tapping into Helen’s skill and expertise. After all, she is one of the UK’s leading coaches in para dance and has over 20 years experience in inclusive dance. A highlight of the performance for me was Helen's choreography, creating a unique and captivating experience on stage. This innovative approach not only showcased the talent and skill of Rebecca, who performed it with grace, elegance, power and poise but also pushed the boundaries of what is traditionally expected in dance.
The inclusion of Propel Dance and other disabled dancers in a gala that also featured standing dancers (some ‘famous’ ballet soloists - so I’m told) from various backgrounds signifies a milestone in the acceptance and appreciation of inclusive dance. There’s a very long way to go don’t get me wrong BUT, what this event did do, was showcase the ability, virtuosity, and power of dancers, irrespective of their physical differences, highlighting that talent knows no boundaries. It's a leap towards recognising inclusive dance as part of the mainstream narrative, showcasing the incredible potential of all forms of dance that come into and under that umbrella.
Raising the Bar
An essential outcome of this performance is the heightened visibility and profile of disability dance. By bringing this art form to a platform like Sadler's Wells, the gala has introduced many to the beauty and skill of inclusive and wheelchair dance, reaching audiences who might not have previously considered booking a ticket for such a performance. This exposure is crucial for increasing awareness and appreciation of the potential within disabled dancers and wheelchair dance. Therefore, Empower in Motion serves as a reminder to appreciate all forms of movement. The beauty of dance lies in its ability to convey emotion, tell stories, and connect with audiences, regardless of the physical form it takes. This show invited the audience to embrace diversity in dance, recognising the value and beauty in every movement.
There’s a way to go…. more infrastructure and advocacy needed. Policy change too?
As I mentioned earlier, the UK's infrastructure for wheelchair dance is challenged, and as the country's first professional wheelchair dance company, Propel Dance plays a crucial role in supporting the development of this ecology, in building infrastructure, and blazing a trail for future generations. This performance at Sadler's Wells is a call to action, urging us to change the narrative from one of sympathy to one of cheerleading, advocacy, and influence which is part of our mission, but we feel incredibly passionate about supporting the future of inclusive and wheelchair dance as a whole. We all have a role to play in that in the dance sector. Which brings me on to:
Image: J36 Photography featuring Rebecca on stage performing The Snow Queen solo.
The lens of reviewing dance: challenging ableist perspectives and what we think ‘good’ is
One of the most poignant discussions arising from the gala, for me anyway, is the many reviews that have been published. Reviews are a common occurrence in the mainstream dance world, especially ballet. And, as a non-disabled person and former dance artist working in inclusive settings, this blog is opinion and observation based only. I don’t have lived experience as a disabled person, but I do have an understanding of disabled dancers and high level of appreciation because of that. The gala by prompts me to question: through what lens are we judging the dancing body? It is clear that comparing disabled dancers to their standing counterparts or mainstream dance norms is not only unfair but also misses the point entirely. Beauty in dance should not be confined to traditional standards. Instead, we should ask, "What is beautiful?" and more importantly, "Says who?".
The performance at Sadler's Wells challenged me and the audience, as well as all involved to broaden our perspectives and appreciate beauty in its myriad forms, but for me, also raised many more questions such as:
How can we expand this?
I wonder what the non-disabled dancers thought about the wheelchair-using dancers?
Who else do we need to influence?
How can we build appreciation?
How do we shift the aesthetic ‘ballet’ gaze?
How do we change outdated, old-fashioned views of what a dancing body is?
When I ask those questions, it feels like there’s a very long way to go indeed. It would certainly be refreshing if we had better representation of disabled voices to review disability dance in the future.
Final thoughts
I’m extremely proud of Propel Dance's appearance at Sadler's Wells as part of "Empower in Motion - An Inclusive Ballet". Felt abit like a watershed moment for inclusive and wheelchair dance. Certainly, it challenged traditional norms, celebrated diversity, and paved the way for a more inclusive and appreciative dance community. It chimed with me because well, I never considered achieving what we have so far with Propel Dance, it is not anything that I thought would ever happen in my career.
One thing is for sure now though, our mission is to continue our leadership role in developing, advocating for and profiling disabled dancers in a more inclusive sector where every professional piece of dance and every dancer is valued and celebrated, not pitted against one another.
The goal is for the wider public and audiences to appreciate the disabled dancing body in the same way standing dancers do. Let’s continue that work. Watch this space for future Propel Dance activities to come in later 2024, and who knows, maybe one day Sadlers Wells will programme us for a week-long run?!?!
To find out more about Propel Dance, go to: www.propeldance.uk
To email me your thoughts about this or if you’d like to work together, contact me on: hello@amydaltonhardy.co.uk